Principal's Message

Jackson School is a collaborative learning community for all. We aim to develop independence through safety, respect and responsibility. We aspire to offer authentic, quality educational experiences that develop futures, create opportunities and inspire student potential; enabling our students to be valued and contributing members of the wider community. We share and celebrate our successes and achievements. 

The Issue Highlights

• New Strategic Plan (SSP).
• ILPs & Term 4 Student Support Group (SSG) Meetings.
• School Saving Bonus & Parent/Carer Payment Arrangements.
• Students of the Week from our PBIS rewards system.
• Showcase of students' learning from across the school in Primary and Secondary
• Health and Wellbeing information to support you and your child.
• Community news including from Jackson OSHC provider TheirCare.
• School Dates -For the most up-to-date calendar dates, always refer to the Xuno Calendar in your Parent Portal.

Dear Families,

Welcome Back to Term 4!

I have thoroughly enjoyed spending quality "Dad time" with my growing family. As Han and I adjust to our new busyness, Auggie is doing well and beginning to crack a smile in between the noisy creativity of his older brother and sister.

Thank you to Bern and Julie for stepping into the Acting Principal role during my family leave; particularly starting in new Assistant Principal roles. This has truly been a gift for our family. Thank you also to Matt and the Leadership Team for your support too. You've done an amazing job!

We have much to look forward to in Term 4, including: Values Week in Week 6 where we will also celebrate Russ Jackson Day on Friday 10th November by displaying our school values and the 8 Employability Skills; Melbourne Cup long weekend (Curriculum Day for Report Writing); The Art & Design Show in Week 7; the Year 12 Graduation on Wednesday 4th December; Water Play Day on Friday 13th December; finishing with our Concert in the Courtyard on Monday 16th December this year; the Achievement Assembly and Year 6 Graduation on Tuesday 17th December. Oh and lots of camps! The last day for students will be Wednesday 18th December. Thursday 19th December is our Last Curriculum Day focused around transition with time allocated to share our student's Jackson Learner Profiles and other important plans and documents to set them up for success in 2024.

On behalf of the Jackson School Community, I would like to welcome Namisha (1/2A ES), Sam (7/8C ES) and Katie (3/4B ES) were successful in receiving fixed term positions with us at the end of Term 3. I would also like to extend a very warm welcome to the new members of our Leadership Team: Meggan, Deb and Kathy P. Meggan Decker started with us as the Leading Teacher (Junior School) in Term 3. Meggan comes to us from Davis Creek Primary School as a Leading Teacher (Wellbeing and EAL). Deborah Munoz also started with us in the last week of Term 3 as the Leading Teacher (Disability Inclusion). Deb joins us from Strathtulloh Primary School as a Leading Teacher (PSD and Inclusion). Last week we also welcomed Kathy Pham who will undertake the role of Leading Teacher (Middle School), who joins us from Parkwood Green Primary where she was an Assistant Principal. Welcome to our Community! 

New School Strategic Plan (SSP)

Term 3 was a busy term with our School Review, VRQA Minimum Standards Assessment on top of the start of Disability Inclusion Profile meetings. The school review evaluated our performance over the last four years. This has included visiting classrooms, teacher professional learning team meetings and focus groups with our staff, students and parents/carers. Thank you to everyone who took part in the review.

We have now received our Review Report and School Strategic Plan (SSP) for the next four years. Feedback received from the review panel and the community has been extremely positive. Thank you to the whole community for making our successes and achievements possible. Together, we have made Jackson School a Collaborative Learning Community for All and a system leader of inclusive education across the state.

As part of the review process, we decided that Jackson's Vision and Values were still as relevant as they were in 2016 when they were developed. I believe the supportive culture as a collaborative learning community allows us to offer authentic, quality educational experiences that develop futures, create opportunities and inspire students' potential.Our purpose remains clear, and our quality education programs enable our students to become valued and contributing members of the wider community.

The new SSP has now been endorsed by School Council and the Department of Education and will officially be launched in 2025. To read the Review Report please click here:

ILPs & Term 4 Student Support Group (SSG) Meetings

Teachers have now completed revisions to your child's Individual Education Plan (ILP) for Term 4. These will include additional goals related to the learning for this term and continuations of the learning from Term 3. These will be emailed to families once they are published and will also be available on Xuno for you to access anytime. Your child's progress against their goals will be reported to you in their end of year report. In Week 4, time has been allocated for teachers to hold optional Student Support Group (SSG) meetings with families. Should you wish to organise a SSG you can request this directly with your child's teacher on SeeSaw. These are also available via telephone. 

2025 Pupil Free Days 

School Council have agreed on our Pupil Free Days (Curriculum Days and Common Professional Practice Days) for 2025. These are:

• Tuesday 28th January - Day 1 Term 1 (New SSP / Victorian Curriculum 2.0)
• Wednesday 29th January - Day 2 Term 1 (School Operations & Classroom Preparation)
• Tuesday 22nd April - Day 1 Term 2 (Staff Disability Training)
• Monday 3rd November - Melbourne Cup Eve (Assessment & Reporting)
• Thursday 18th December (Student Transition)

As listed above, the 28th January and 29th January will be Curriculum Days to prepare for the start of the year. The first day for students in 2025 is Thursday 30 January. On these days, staff undertake professional learning, received health, safety and medical training and prepare classrooms for students to return.

School Saving Bonus & Parent/Carer Payment Arrangements

Please also see information in the following pages on the new $400 School Saving Bonus and 2025 Parent/Carer Payment Arrangements. This is set at a reasonable $70 for next year. Please note that the School Saving Bonus can be used towards school uniform, camps and activities but not the Parent/Carer Payment Arrangements. If families have not yet paid the 2024 Parent/Carer Payment Arrangements, School Council would very much appreciate your support as a contribution towards your child's education. 

Anthony